Fog light for illuminating airport runways



May 1, 1962 M. P. DEPUTY 3,032,641

FOG LIGHT FOR ILLUMINATING AIRPORT RUNWAYS Filed June 7, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

May 1, 1962 M. P. DEPUTY 3,032,641

FOG LIGHT FOR ILLUMINATING AIRPORT RUNWAYS Filed June 7, 1960ZSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I I I ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,032,641FOG LIGHT FOR ILLUMINATING AIRPORT RUNWAYS Marshall P. Deputy, LaGrange, Ill., assignor to The Fog-Master Corporation 1 Filed June 7,1960, Ser. No. 34,519 .1 Claim. (Cl.,240-1.2)

This invention relates to lighting systems, particularly designed forilluminating the runways of airport landing fields or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a light of thischaracter embodying a main focusing light casing in which a plurality ofindividual lights are mounted, which are so constructed and arrangedthat the lights will be operated successively as a warning signal, aswell as a light for increasing visibility during a fog condition,enabling an airplane pilot to execute a more perfect landing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a series of lightsarranged within a single light casing, the lights having lenses ofdistinctive selected colors successively illuminated, the lightsremaining lit for various periods of time, to meet various requirementsof use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system of thischaracter embodying a plurality of fog filtering lights which may beinstalled along the approaches and runways of landing fields.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a series of foglights wherein a light remains lit until the succeeding light is lit,thereby insuring the continuous illumination of the runway.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will behereinafter described, and the novel features thereof defined in theappended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a fog light, constructed inaccordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the fog light, taken online 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the fog light, illustrating themotor supporting bracket.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, the viewbeing slightly enlarged.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring system forsupplying electric energy to the lights.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the movable contactmember as bridging adjacent contact plates of the contact block.

FIGURE 10 is a view illustrating the lenses of certain of the lights aslined for color.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the main light casing is indicatedgenerally by the reference character 5. This casing is of generallycylindrical shape, has a front cover 8, and is mounted on a base 6 whichmay be secured in position by any suitable means, not shown.

As better shown by FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the casing supports aplurality of independent lights 7 which, as shown, have the conventionalincandescent bulbs therein but which may be of the seal beam type, thelights being so arranged that one light will be clearly distinguishablefrom the adjacent lights.

'lhe cover 8 forms a part of the light casing, and is provided with aplurality of openings for the reception of the lights 7.

Each light 7 includes a lens 9, and each lens is of a 3,032,641 PatentedMay 1, 1962 "ice distinctive color, the color being determined duringthe fusing of the lens, and may be green, yellow, red or any desirablecolor to meet the requirements of usage.

As clearly shown by FIGURE 8 of the drawings, a contact ring 10 isprovided, which contact ring is supplied with conducting segment 11, 12and 13, the conducting segment 11 being slightly shorter than theconducting segment 12, while the conducting segment 12 is substantiallylonger than the conducting segment 13 or adjacent conducting segment.

The stationary contact ring 10 is supported on a bar 14 that forms apart of a bracket 15 which is of a particular structure, and includes aplurality of radiating arms 16 that have their forward ends secured tothe cover 8, as better shown by FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

The bracket 15 is provided with a bearing opening through which theshaft 17 of the motor 18 extends, the shaft 17 supporting the rotor 19of the switch. A circular contact plate 20 is secured to the rotor 19,this circular contact plate being in circuit with a contact member 21 atall times, through the socket 22 and a biasing spring 23 mounted withinthe socket 22, which normally urges the contact member 21 intoengagement with the conducting segments 11, 12 and 13, as the rotor 19rotates with the motor shaft 17.

The reference character 24 indicates a stationary contact arm which isalso mounted on the bar 14, and carries a contact member 25 at its upperend, the contact member 25 being urged into engagement with the circularcontact plate 20 by means of the coiled biasing spring 26.

The stationary contact arm 24 is in circuit with a source of electricalenergy, which in the present showing is the battery indicated by thereference character 27, through the wire 28, a return ground wire beingindicated by the reference character 29.

As shown by FIGURE 8 of the drawings, the light 7 is in circuit with theconducting segment 13, through the wire 30, the return ground wire beingindicated by the reference character 31.

The light 7' is in circuit with the conducting segment 11, through thewire 32 which in turn is connected to a return ground wire 33.

The light 7 is in circuit with the conducting segment 12, through theWire 34, while the return ground wire for the light 7" is indicated bythe reference character 35, the motor 18 being also in circuit with theground wire, through the wire 36.

The motor 18 is in circuit with the battery 27, through wire 38 and wire39, there being provided a manually controlled switch 40 for controllingthe circuit through wires 38 and 39 to operate the motor.

It might be further stated that while the conducting segments 11, 12 and13 are insulated from each other, the contact member 21 is of a diameterso that it will bridge the adjacent ends of the conducting segments inpassing from one conducting segment to the other, to the end that thelighting of the runway or landing field will be continuous, although thecontact member 21 passes from one conducting segment to another.

It will also be understood that because of the form of the conductingsegments, the lights connected or in circuit with the conductingsegments will be successively maintained lit for greater lengths oftime, and since the lenses of the individual lights are distinctivelycolored difierently, signals will be made by the continuous rotation ofthe rotor 19 of the switch and the movement of the contact member 21over the various conducting segments, 10, 11 and 12.

In operation, it is contemplated to position fog lights such asdescribed, along the longitudinal edges of an airport runway or landingfield, and since the lenses of the various lights are of distinguishingcolors, the colors selected being designed to dissipate fog and glaringlight rays, it will'be obvious thatthe illumination of the run- Ways andairport landing fields will be increased over the usual lighting systemsemployed in airport landing While I have shownand described theinvention as designed primarily for use in illuminating runways ofairports and landing fields, itis to be understood that be understoodthat the'number of lights and time limits for the lighting successivelyof the lights, may be varied,

to adapt the device for a particular use.

Having'thus described the invention'what is claimed is: A multi-colorfog light comprising a casing, a plurality of lights symmetricallypositioned in said casing, varied colored lenses over each said lights,a rotary switch mounted in said casing, said switch comprising an"annular member having a plurality of closely spaced co- ;planar arcuatesegments of progressively increasing length mounted thereto, a contactmember movable over said arcuate segments, said contact member havinga'contact surface ofgreater dimension than the space between saidarcuate segments, a motor having a drive shaft operatively connected tosaid contact for rotating the same, a source of electrical energy, acircuit for each ofsaid lights including the source of electricalenergy, a conductor from the source of electrical energy to each of saidlights, a conductor from each of said lights-to one of said arcuatesegments of the rotary switch, a conductor from the contact member ofsaid-rotary switch to the source of electrical energy, and a returnconnection from each light to the source of electrical energy.

References Cited in the file of this-patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,266,554 Coleman et al. May 21, 1918 1,438,003 Varley Dec. 5, 19222,083,514 Brown June 8, 1937 2,134,551 .Enfield Oct. 25, 1938 2,179,889Hall Nov. 14, 1939 2,210,718 Henninger Aug. 6, 1940 2,567,425 DillonSept. 11, 1951

